Two Walls and a Roof Read Online Free PDF Page B

Pop, Kyrle was known as the Gaggyman and I was the Chicken or Gengen. Lill was a small chubby little girl and she always seemed to have a far away look as if she was searching for something, or so it seemed to me as a child. Because we lived in different houses , my other memories of her are dim , and those I do have are of her smiling a lot but looking hungry too.  Later on of course, she became the butt of many tricks me and Kyrle would play on her as she was always a gullible victim and believed all we told her.
    I would say about nineteen sixty one or two, times seemed to have gotten very much tougher for us all. I think the reading by candle light took its toll on my eyesight and I’m sure it was the same for both Lill and Kyrle, as by then, we were all having trouble seeing the blackboard at school. Mother had to get us examined, and in those days you had to go to Cork to get an eye examination. My mother and Nannie seemed to me to be carrying the whole brunt of all the bad times together, and any kind of new financial expense would be really bad news for the two of them. My memories of my father then are that he almost always seemed to be in bed either drunk or sleeping. It was as if he just was not there at all, and he had no spirit to fight or help his wife and family in any way.
    To get to Cork we would have to go by bus and cross the city to the Eye Ear and Throat Hospital on the Western R oad. The fare and some food were the big problem. Both Nannie and mother were at their wits ’ end and no way could they see how this could be done , especially getting the bus fare. As we seemed to be getting worse in the eyes, and desperation set in, my mother took the only resort open to her. She would join the really really poor of Buttevant and go to the Government office for help, better known as visiting ‘The Poor Man’. This was as demeaning as it gets for proud people , especially the likes of Nannie , so of course she wouldn’t go herself; she would send my mother instead.
    My best guess is that mother was in h er early thirties then, a good -l ooking, soft - s poken, and once upon a time fun- loving , happy girl, now walking down the town to beg for a hand out. It pains me so much today to know she had to do this , but worse was ahead for her.
    In the dark and dingy old room, a few people worse off than herself sat waiting on hard chairs. Her name was taken by some clerk , and sitting down , she chatted quietly to the others who were waiting in line to be called. ‘Next’ was the dreaded word.
    From inside an inner office a harsh and unfriendly voice boomed out, questioning some misfortunate girl in angry and loud words, removing her last vestige of pride by repeating her plight so loud that all outside could hear. “ And you ’ r e telling me you ’ r e having a baby. Huh, you are so, be God, …and I’m expected to feed it too is that it…and the others as well, be God, and he sends you no money from England…am I to believe that am I ? G et out of me sight will you, I’m not made of money, …Next .”
    She ca me out in tears, brushing past the newest victim on the way in. One of the women, a Mrs O’Bri e n, decided she could not take it any more, and said to the mother , “Belenda I ’ ll be off now and come back tomorrow when he’s in a better mood”. Mrs Gilliam went in and took his booming and ranting, and got what she wanted, and as she came out she whispered to mother , “He ’ s not so bad today Belenda, you’ll be alright . ”
    “Next…. O’Brien ….O’Brien,” There was only silence as she had left. “Cahill so . C ome on, I haven’t all day, and be quiet out there will ye . ” Mother entered and stood respectfully at the desk. “ Sit down will you, what do you want ? ” She told him that she had three small children who needed to go to Cork to have their eyes tested, and could she have money for the bus fare and a bit for food for the journey. Without looking up he